“There will never be a photograph of the Grand Canyon that can adequately describe its depth, breadth, and true beauty.” – Stefanie Payne (A Year in the National Parks: The Greatest American Road Trip)
I chose Stefanie Payne’s quote as a starting point for this post because it perfectly summarises what I’ve been repeating to people for years! Indeed, one can not grasp the scale of the Grand Canyon from a photo. Undoubtedly, the vastness, colors, serenity, and stillness of the Canyon can’t be comprehended until you stand in the heart of it. The sheer size of the Canyon is outstanding, it is difficult to grasp from images.
I will outline my experiences of the bus tours that I took to both the South and West Rim. However, you can avail of many other ways to experience seeing the Grand Canyon. For example, a helicopter, road trip, hike through the Canyon and even spend time camping under the stars there.
The following sections are included in this post (click to navigate directly to the section):
Which Rim I Preferred
The South and West Rim are two of the most popular destinations for visiting The Grand Canyon. I’ve been lucky enough to see both! The South Rim is further away from Vegas. It is c. 4-5 hour drive versus 2-3 hours to the West Rim. Also, it is managed by the National Park Services. Thus, it has a lot more viewing points and, some would say, is more user-friendly. One reason for this is the paved paths along the edge. Furthermore, the West Rim is at a lower elevation than the South.
Nevertheless, I preferred the West Rim! Perhaps I had built expectations too high for our trip to the South. Moreover, many reviews advise it is better than the West Rim – this too heightened my expectations. However, the West Rim has 360 views and is where you will find the popular Skywalk. Also, there are many activities at Hualapai Ranch (the West Rim is owned by Hualapai Indians).
Stop-offs Along the Trip
Most tours to the South and West Rim include a stop-off at a viewing point overlooking Hoover Dam. If you want to do a proper tour of Hoover Dam, you can drive out or book a group tour. It’s not too far from Vegas. You could likely complete it within a half day from Vegas.
Also, many tours to the South Rim include a stop-off along Route 66. We stopped off at the popular Historic Route 66 Museum (see more on this under the South Rim section). Additionally, this made for some good photo ops!
Hoover Dam
Constructed during The Great Depression, this human-made Dam is at the border between Arizona and Nevada. It is in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River. Our tour guide was informative and answered many questions about the Dam – he also assisted with taking photos! The guide advised that the Dam’s generators provide power for public and private utilities in Nevada, Arizona, and California. It is under an hour to drive to the Dam from Vegas Strip. Undeniably, it is a huge tourist attraction in its own right. Due to its impressive engineering, it was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1985. Also, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places (1981) and recognized as a National Civil Engineering Landmark (1984).
The Hoover Dam website provides details and maps for planning your trip here. Below are some of the options for visiting:
- To solely see the visitor center.
- A 30 minute Power Plant tour, including the visitor center.
- A full-hour tour of the Dam, including the visitor center.
The Hoover Dam website has prices and further tour details. Check out the tour reviews on Tripadvisor!
1. SOUTH RIM
The South Rim is within The Grand Canyon National Park. It is further of a journey (4-5 hours) from the Vegas Strip than that of the West. I had first visited the West Rim years prior. However, I have since read reviews advising that the South Rim is a better location for a first-time tourist.
Viewing Points, Paths, Museums
As previously mentioned, some of the reasons for this Rim’s popularity is its many more viewing points. Also, it is more user-friendly due to its paved paths (it includes a 2.5 mile Rim walk). Furthermore, you will find the small Geology Yavapai Museum and enjoy views of the Colorado River along the Rim walk.
Mather Point is one of the most impressive viewing points along the trail. It is likely to be the first point that you arrive at because it is located just by the car park after entering the area. This sight seemed to be pretty spectacular. However, I found it quite crowded. Unfortunately, for us, it was difficult to see as sleet and rain caused poor visibility. The South Rim is well developed and includes a ‘village’ area. Here, you find a cafe, restaurants, studios, and souvenirs for sale.
The South Rim, like the West, is open all year round (weather permitting). The Grand Canyon National Park website provides a lot of information on the Canyon. I have included their map in my photo gallery. Furthermore, you can download a more detailed map on the Grand Canyon website. The website also provides details on ways to get there and links to tours on offer. However, I noticed that (unlike our day tour) it does not specify a stop off at the Historic Route 66 Museum along Route 66. The tour states that it stops off for a fuel break at Kingman, AZ – this is where this Museum is. Therefore, if this is something that you want to do, confirm with the tour operator if the stop-off is included!
Our Tour Agency (Grand Canyon Destinations)
The tour we took was through Grand Canyon Destinations. We were very happy with this tour! A little more time on the South Rim would have been better. However, it is a large area to cover. Therefore, I’m sure this is the same on all of the day tours to the Rim. We also stopped off at Hoover Dam, Route 66, and In and Out Burgers. Undoubtedly, we were glad that we had opted for the smaller tour option. Due to the limited time, there would have been a rush to queue for pictures/food at the stop-off locations on the regular tour. Moreover, the smaller group tour was not much more expensive.
Route 66
One advantage of going to the South Rim was the stop-off at the Historic Route 66 Museum. We took full advantage of the photo opportunities here! However, time was limited. Again, this is one of the reasons we chose the smaller group tour to the Grand Canyon. Thus, we didn’t have a large group queuing for pics! However, we did not spend too long in the Museum – it’s quite small. Nonetheless, if you want to read some of the histories on Route 66 (or buy some souvenirs), you have the opportunity to do so here.
In Summary
I must admit that I preferred my prior visit to the West Rim. Perhaps this is unfair as the weather was pretty bad when I visited the South Rim. It was particularly hazy when we started our walk at the impressive Mather Point. However, I found the 360 view from the West Rim was more impressive than the one-sided view in the South. Also, the Skywalk is at the West Rim.
2. WEST RIM
It’s close to 10 years since I first visited Vegas and took a day trip to the West Rim. I had seen many pictures of the Grand Canyon before visiting. Moreover, I had read about its scale and size before my trip. However, nothing prepared me for just how spectacular it would be when I finally arrived! It truly felt like I was standing in the middle of a painting. From the eerie silence and tranquility of the environment to the vastness of space, colors, etched shapes, and a multitude of erosions within the slopes of the cliffs. It was a sight to behold!
The West Rim is about 2 hours closer to Vegas than the South Rim. This is one of the main advantages! Although it is not as commercial as the South Rim, I preferred it here (in the West)!
The South is commercialized – it contains a ‘village’ and has a 2km paved trail walk with many viewing points. Nevertheless, I still feel that Guano Point was a better viewing point than any South Rim viewing points we saw during our trip! Unlike the South Rim, where you only really have a one-sided view while walking most of the Rim walk, Guano Point allows for a full 360 view of the Canyon! Also, explore the Grand Canyon West website to find out more about the activities you can do while visiting. You will find information on how to get there, where to stay etc. Not only will you enjoy the views of the Grand Canyon and Colorado River from the West Rim, but you will also be able to explore the Hualapai Ranch. Also, if you are brave enough, you can walk the Skywalk!
Hualapai Indians
Even though it is not as developed as the South Rim, there are other advantages to exploring the West Rim. One advantage is to explore Hualapai Ranch (the West Rim is owned by Hualapai Indians). I very much liked how they have set up the area. I felt like I was taken back in time to an old west town. For example, you can learn to rope like a cowboy/cowgirl, horseback ride near the Rim, and ride a mechanical bull. You will have the chance to meet Hualapai members. Also, you can buy handmade and authentic Native American crafts, jewelry, and other souvenirs. Check out the Hualapai Ranch website for more information on the Ranch.
Skywalk
The skywalk is a glass bridge that extends 70 feet out over and 4,000 feet above the Canyon floor. As you can probably tell from my lack of photographs – I was not brave enough to walk it!! Although, it was a shame to learn that cameras and cell phones are not allowed on the skywalk.
There is a considerable fee for a professional photo if you wish to have a photo here! I think that this is a bit of a rip-off. Visitors have already paid a fee to enter the skywalk! The entry charge is usually not covered in the cost of your day trip either. Therefore, it is circa $27 more if you wish to walk the skywalk when you get there! Check out the skywalk website for more information (including current prices).
FROM A LOCAL
Still unsure? Check out the below video to hear from a local tour guide to the area!
Which Rim would you recommend visiting? Comment below!
Thanks for reading,
Anita
xx
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